Towing-machine.



R. s. RILEY.

TOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOY.19, 1910. 1,020,928. Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

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" R. S. RILEY.

TOWING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV.19, 1910.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

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V Axw UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

MENTS, TO AMERICAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TOWING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT S. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Providence, Providence county, Rhode Island, have invented certain Improvements in Towing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that particular class of machines designed to control the winding or delivery of rope or hawser on the drum of a towing machine or similar device; one object of said invention being to provide improved automatic valve controlling mechanism for the engine employed on such a machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means of simplified and substantial construction whereby under certain conditions it shall be possible to operate the regulating valve by hand without requiring a by-pass as has hitherto been considered necessary.

I further desire to provide a novel and simplified combination of parts for operating the device for shifting the rope guiding carriage.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l, is a rear elevation of a towing machine showing my invention as applied thereto; Fig. 2, is a vertical section on a larger scale than Fig. 1, illustrating in detail the construction of certain of the parts constituting my invention; Fig. 3, is a vertical section illustrating the detail construc tion of the pawl shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4:, is a fragmentary elevation of a detail of the pawl guide.

In Fig. 1 of the above drawings, 1 repre sents the frame of a towing machine of the well known form and I have illustrated so much of this machine as is necessary to properly locate the elements constituting my invention. On this supporting frame are mounted two engine cylinders 2, whose crank shaft (not shown) act-uates a gear 3 operatively connected to a winding drum 4.

A plurality of guide bars 5 extend between the two vertical portions of the frame 1 and serve as the support for a transversely movable carriage 6 carrying vertically placed guide rollers 7 and a guide pulley Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 19, 1910.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 593,157.

8. This carriage is laterally moved by means of a screw 9, to one end of which is connected a gear (not shown) which meshes with a pinion 11 hereafter referred to. The casing of the steam controlling valve for the engine cylinders 2 is illustrated at 12 and said valve is operated through the medium of a valve rod 13 whose outer end is connected to a swivel 14. This latter is made in the form of an open rectangle and while being connected to the valve rod 13 so as to revolve freely independently thereof, has non-revolubly fixed in its opposite end an elongated screw 15.

A pawl 16 slides longitudinally upon the two opposite side members of the swivel, and as shown in Fig. 3, consists of a block capable of a limited vertical movement on said side members. The lower base or edge of this block is slotted as indicated at 17 to form two jaws for the reception of a guide rib 18 on a portion of the frame casting or other suitable structure, and having at its ends two oppositely beveled portions 21 and 22 at the lower edge of the pawl 16 adjacent the slot 17. As a result of this construction the swivel 14L may be moved longitudinally with its pawl 16 in engagement with the guide rib 18 and is held by said rib from rotating until said pawl strikes either of the beveled ends 19 and 20 of said rib. The inclined surfaces of these latter cause the pawl to rise sufficiently to permit of it, with the swivel, to be turned in one direction, although if the direction of revolution be reversed said pawl is held from turning as before. It is, of course, immaterial whether the pawl be provided with two jaws straddling a single guide rib or whether it be in the form of a single projecting piece operating between two ribs.

The screw 15 extends into the threaded end of an elongated sleeve 23 rotatably mounted in a second sleeve 24: carried in a suitable bearing of the main frame. Said screw 15 has fixed to it two stop nuts or abutments 25 and 26, of which the former is designed to engage a shoulder within the sleeve 23 and the latter is placed to engage the end of said sleeve; the distance between these nuts being substantially equal to the maximum permissible travel of the regulating valve for the steam engine. The guide 18 has a length equal to the allowable travel of the valve, so that by the time the pawl 16 reaches one of the inclined portions of said guide, one of the nuts 25 or 26 strikes its cooperating abutment or shoulder.

The outer end of the sleeve 23 has slidably keyed or feathered to it a sleeve 27 carrying an operating handle 28 and provided with teeth 29 capable of co-acting with the teeth 30 on the sleeve 24 to rotatably couple it to said sleeve 27. The sleeve 24 has keyed or otherwise fixed to it a pinion 11, as well as a beveled gear 31, and this latter meshes with the second beveled gear 32, which is directly geared to the shaft of the winding drum 4 and gear 3 in the ordinary manner.

The casing 33 for the structure surrounding the aforesaid apparatus and particularly the beveled gears 31 and 32, has pivoted to it a locking pawl or latch 34, designed to enter any one of the grooves 35, 36 or 37 formed in the sleeve 27 for the purpose of preventing longitudinal movement thereof, there being a collar 38 between the grooves 36 and 37, provided with teeth which are so designed as to prevent revolution of the sleeve 27 when engaged by said pawl 34.

WVit-h the above described arrangement of parts the turning of the beveled pinion 32 when the drum 4 is turned, as by the drawing therefrom of a length of the cable or hawser, causes turning of the beveled pinion 31 of the sleeve 24. Inasmuch as the pinion 11 is keyed to said sleeve, it operates directly through the gear 10 to turn the screw 9 and shift the carriage 6 toan extent proportional to the amount of cable delivered from or fed to it.

If the sleeve 27 be in such position that the teeth 29 and 30 are in engagement, said sleeve with the sleeve 23 is also turned, and inasmuch as under normal conditions the swivel 14 is in such position that its pawl 16 is at or near the center of the guide 18, the screw 15 is moved longitudinally by such a revolution, although the swivel is prevented from rotating by the engagement of said pawl with the guide. As a consequence the valve rod 13 is moved longitudinally and steam is admitted to or cut off from the engine cylinders, with the result that the drum is turned in the well known manner to wind up or pay out the rope thus turning the beveled pinion 32 in a direction opposite that above assumed so as to shortly return the valve to its normal position. If, however, the primary turning of the drum and hence that of the beveled pinions 32 and 31, be continued for a sufficient length of time, the screw 15 is moved longitudinally to such an extent that the pawl 16 comes opposite the inclined portion 20, for example, of the guide 18. Thereafter, owing to the engagement of the stop nut 25 with its co-acting shoulder, any further revolution of the sleeve 23 causes revolution of the swivel 14 and pawl 16, since the inclined portion above referred to causes said pawl to rise on its support-ing guides formed by the sides of the swivel. As a consequence, the valve rod 13 will be moved to its maximum allowable extent and is then retained in this position without the possibility of causing overtravel of the valve, under which conditions the engines are free to operate to cause a reverse revolution of the drum 4 as soon as this is permitted by the rope or hawser. At the beginning of such reverse operation the inclined outside edge of one of the jaws of the pawl 16 strikes the straight side of the end of the guide 18, causing the pawl to rise, and thereafter the inside edge of the other pawl jaw strikes said side of the guide, whereby further revolution of the pawl is prevented, so that the screw 15 is again caused to travel longitudinally in the sleeve 23, thereby moving the valve, through the rod 13, back to its normal position. If this revolution is continued sufiiciently far, the stop nut 26 strikes the end of the sleeve 23, and the pawl 16, upon reaching the part 19 of the guide 18, is again permitted to turn without causing overtravel of the valve.

A reversal of the direction of movement of the sleeve 23 will as before cause the swivel with the valve to return to their normal positions. The locking pawl 34, being placed in the groove 35, effectually prevents longitudinal movement of the sleeve 27 and consequent uncoupling of the sleeves 29 and 30, but if at any time it be desired to separate these members so as to operate the steam valve by hand independently of the automatic mechanism heretofore described, the sleeve 27 is moved outwardly and the pawl 34 is caused to enter the groove 37, under which conditions the teeth 29 and 30 are disengaged. The handle 28 may now be turned and inasmuch as the sleeve 27 is keyed to the sleeve 23, this latter is caused to act upon the screw 15 to move it longitudinally as described, with the result that the steam valve may be opened, closed or adjusted to any desired extent.

If it be desired to provide against the movement of the hand wheel owing to the friction between the sleeves 23 and 24, the sleeve 27 may be moved to such a position that the tongue of the pawl 34 will enter the groove 36, while its tooth will engage with the teeth of the wheel 38 and thereby effectually prevent turning of said sleeve.

I claim 1. A valve controlling device for the engine of a towing machine consisting of a screw connected to the winding drum; a swivel connected between said screw and the engine valve; a pawl mounted on said swivel; and a guiding device slidably engaged by said pawl to normally prevent revolution of the swivel; there being spaces at the ends of the guide in positions to permit revolution of the pawl.

2. The combination with a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism there for consisting of a longitudinally movable member capable of turning; a swivel connected between said member and the engine valve of the machine; a pawl on the swivel; a guiding device placed to engage the pawl to normally prevent the same from turning but having portions at its ends arranged to permit the pawl to turn in one direction while preventing said turning in an opposite direction; with means whereby the swivel is caused to revolve with the pawl at the ends of its path of movement.

3. The combination with a towing ma chine of valve controlling mechanism therefor including a longitudinally movable member capable of turning; a swivel con necting said member with the engine valve; a longitudinally movable pawl mounted on said swivel and having a slot; a stationary rib having oppositely inclined end portions and placed to be normally engaged by the slotted end of the pawl; with means whereby the swivel is caused to turn at either end of its path of movement.

4:. The combination with a towing machine, of a valve-controlling mechanism therefor consisting of a longitudinally movable rod connected to the valve; two co-acting threaded members for actuating said rod; a driving member connected to the winding drum of the machine and in line with said two threaded members; a hand operated device for actuating the valve operating rod; and means for coupling said device with the driving member at will to cause the rod to be actuated.

5. The combination with a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism therefor including a valve rod; a hand operated device for longitudinally moving said rod at will; a member driven from the winding drum of the machine; and means including two sleeves having their adjacent ends toothed for coupling said member at will to the hand operated device.

6. The combination in a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism therefor including a valve rod having two co-acting threaded members including a sleeve; a hand operating device slidably fixed to said sleeve; a second sleeve operatively connected to the winding drum; and a clutch for connecting said latter sleeve with the hand operated device at will.

7 The combination in a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism including a threaded rod; a threaded sleeve co-acting therewith; a second and a third sleeve mounted on said first sleeve; means for slidably connecting the second sleeve to the first sleeve; means for turning the second sleeve at will; means for connecting the third sleeve with the winding drum of the machine; and means for coupling the second and third sleeves at will.

8. The combination in a towing machine, of a rope guide including a carriage; valve controlling mechanism including a rotary member driven from the winding drum; two co-acting threaded members mounted in line with said member; an adjustable sleeve for coupling one of the threaded" members to the rotary member; and means for traversing the carriage including gearing actuated from said rotary member of the valve controlling means.

9. The combination in a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism therefor including a member driven from the winding drum of the machine; a valve rod; and means for actuating said valve rod; the same including a slidable member; means for connecting said member to the drum driven member at will; and alocking pawl forholding said sliding member either in engagement with the drum driven member or in a position out of engagement with the same.

10. The combination in a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism therefor in cluding a valve rod; two co-acting threaded members for moving said valve rod; a sleeve coupled to and slidably mounted on one of said threaded members; a second sleeve operatively connected to the winding drum for connecting said two sleeves at will; and a locking pawl having co-acting means on the slidable sleeve for retaining it either in a position clutched to the other sleeve or in a position out of operative engagement with the same.

11. The combination in a towing machine of valve controlling mechanism therefor including a valve rod; two co-acting threaded members for moving said valve rod; a sleeve coupled to and slidably mounted on one of said threaded members; a second sleeve operatively connected to the winding drum for connecting said two sleeves at will; and a locking pawl having co-acting means on the slidable sleeve for retaining it either in a position clutched to the other sleeve or in a position out of engagement with the same; said pawl being formed to normally permit revolution of said sleeve; with means on the sleeve capable of co-acting with the pawl to prevent such revolution.

12. The combination in a towing machine having a shaft and a winding drum of a rotary member actuated from said shaft; a rope guide; means including a sleeve connecting said rotary member with said rope guide; and means operated from said sleeve for actuating the valve of the engine of the machine.

13. The combination in a towing machine &

having a shaft and a Winding drum of a rotary member actuated from said shaft; a rope guide; means including a sleeve connecting said rotary member With said rope guide; a second sleeve concentric With said first sleeve and having a threaded portion; means for coupling said sleeves; and a threaded member co-acting With the said threaded portion of the second sleeve to 0p erate the valve of the engine of the machine.

14:. The combination in a towing machine having a shaft and a Winding drum of a rotary member actuated from said shaft; a rope guide; means including a sleeve connecting said rotary member With said rope guide; a second sleeve concentric With the first sleeve and having a threaded portion; means for coupling said sleeves at Will; and a threaded member co-acting With the threaded portion of the second sleeve to 0perate the engine valve of the machine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT S. RILEY.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY,

WM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0" 

